What to Expect on Your CDL Test

With a steady increase in the demand for trained, certified, and safety-conscious truck drivers, a truck driving career now comes with great employee packets, rewarding perks and bonuses, and enticing working conditions. And when you add to these the opportunities for adventure that such a job entails, it is not hard to understand why there are countless men and women clamoring for a commercial driver’s license (CDL), the ticket to a rewarding and fulfilling truck driving life. The CDL test, however, is the hurdle that you need to cross to obtain the coveted license.

The standard CDL test consists of two segments. The first segment is a written test where the applicant is tested on his knowledge of general trucking rules and road safety guidelines, certain basic mechanical and electrical knowledge about a commercial vehicle like a truck or a trailer, and fundamental troubleshooting tips. CDL applicants who have applied for additional endorsements must also answer questions pertaining to these particular endorsements when they appear for the CDL test.

The above mentioned topics are contained in the driver’s manual issued by a state’s Department of Motor Vehicles, in the section for commercial driving. Those who have applied for additional endorsements must also go through the respective sections on these before they sit for the CDL test.

The second segment of the CDL test is a hands-on driving skills test that the applicant must take on the vehicle whose class exactly matches that for which he wants to obtain the license. In this practical CDL test, the applicant is expected to show his knowledge of pre-trip inspection and safety checklists and how to drive under various road conditions.

To prepare for the practical segment of the CDL test, you need to get enrolled in a reputable truck driver training school. We, at CDL California, suggest that you undertake the comprehensive truck driver training program at TDA Drivers, where after you have completed the program, you can also go through a CDL practice test to assess your learning. Call us at 1-800-TRUCKER (1-800-878-2537) to know more about the courses at TDA Drivers.